Burl Audio B80 Mothership 3 BMB1 Digilink

The Burl B80 Mothership 3 Digilink is a modular multichannel AD/DA conversion system delivering up to 128 ins or outs at 44.1/48 kHz with automatic card detection, advanced routing, and AVID delay-matching for high-end Pro Tools HDx workflows.

Introduction

Burl Audio releases Mothership 3 as a major code advancement for the B80 platform, expanding channel capacity, streamlining configuration, and elevating workflow flexibility within professional recording environments. The B80 Mothership 3 Digilink configuration caters directly to Pro Tools HD setups and empowers hybrid studios to scale analogue I/O with precision, transparency and unrivalled sonic integrity, all while retaining Burl's transformer-driven analogue character when paired with BAD-series input cards and BDA-series output cards.

Massive Channel Expansion

Mothership 3 unlocks the full throughput potential of the B80 chassis, enabling up to sixty-four channels per daughter card slot at 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Current BAD16 and BDA16 modules deliver sixteen channels per slot, while forthcoming Dante and MADI modules will provide full sixty-four channel handling. With ten card slots available, a B80-BMB1 Digilink configuration achieves up to one hundred and twenty-eight channels in or out at base sample rates, allowing engineers to design systems such as 128 input and 32 output paths, or a balanced 64 input and 96 output configuration depending on session demands.

Automatic Slot Configuration

Mothership 3 introduces a new communication protocol between the motherboard and daughter cards which assigns I/O automatically. The system recognises card type and channel count instantly and maps signal paths from left to right without jumpers or manual routing. Engineers may mix input and output modules in any slot order and allow the chassis to configure numbering from channel 1 onwards with complete accuracy. BAD4M and BAD16 cards, for example, may sit at opposite ends of the frame and still route seamlessly as channels 1 to 20. The same applies to mixed DA configurations such as B22, BDA8 and BDA16 modules.

Pro Tools Optimisation

The B80-BMB1 Digilink configuration sets AVID delay-compensation values automatically, removing the need for jumper-based latency calibration and providing instant integration with HD systems. This ensures consistent conversion alignment across every card, from mastering grade BAD4M modules to high-density BAD16 units.

Future-Proof Compatibility

Burl ships all motherboards and daughter cards with Mothership 3 support from October 2024 and includes a D-Jumper on Burl Green 4- and 8-channel cards to enable backward or forward compatibility. Studios already running Mothership 2 systems may continue without sonic compromise and only need consider factory re-programming if upgrading entirely to Mothership 3 with modern-revision cards. Sound quality remains unchanged, preserving the established Burl sonic signature.

Why Choose the B80 Mothership 3 Digilink

• Build extremely large analogue front-ends for Pro Tools without complexity

• Mix any card combination in any slot and let the system route automatically

• Eliminate manual jumper settings and AVID latency alignment

• Expand to one hundred and twenty-eight channels for large-format tracking

• Future-ready platform for upcoming high-density Dante and MADI modules

• Maintain Burl’s world-class analogue tone with total digital precision

• Up to 128 channels at 44.1/48 kHz in Digilink configuration
• Up to 64 channels per slot at base sample rates
• Supports 16 channels per slot with BAD16 and BDA16 cards
• Automatic daughter-card detection and channel mapping
• Mix ADC and DAC modules in any order
• Automatic AVID delay compensation
• New Mothership 3 communication protocol
• Compatible with Burl Green cards via D-Jumper
• Future Dante and MADI high-density card support
• Modular B80 chassis with ten card slots

This item, like everything we supply, comes with the complete support of our expert team. Our excellent technicians have been specifying, building and supporting studios for over twenty years. If you have any problems with installation, setup or everyday use, they’re never more than a click away, and always happy to help.

You can contact them here.